Physical therapy
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Efficacy of a Novel Method for Inspiratory Muscle Training in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Most inspiratory muscle training (IMT) interventions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been implemented as fully supervised daily training for 30 minutes with controlled training loads using mechanical threshold loading (MTL) devices. Recently, an electronic tapered flow resistive loading (TFRL) device was introduced that has a different loading profile and stores training data during IMT sessions. ⋯ The short and largely home-based IMT protocol significantly improved inspiratory muscle function in both groups and is an alternative to traditional IMT protocols in this population. Participants in the TFRL group tolerated higher training loads and achieved larger improvements in inspiratory muscle function than those in the MTL group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Physical Therapists' Views and Experiences of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain and the Role of Acupuncture: Qualitative Exploration.
Low back pain is often accepted as a "normal" part of pregnancy. Despite research suggesting that quality of life for women who are pregnant is adversely affected, most are advised to self-manage. Although the use of acupuncture for the management of persistent nonspecific low back pain has been recommended in recent UK national guidelines, its use in the management of pregnancy-related low back pain remains limited. ⋯ The findings suggest that UK physical therapists are reluctant to use acupuncture in the management of pregnancy-related low back pain. The explanations for these findings include perceived lack of knowledge and confidence, as well as a pervasive professional culture of caution, particularly fears of inducing early labor and of litigation. These findings have been key to informing the content of the training program for physical therapists delivering acupuncture within the pilot EASE Back trial.
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Physical therapists often treat older adults with marked deficits in physical function secondary to an acute hospitalization. These deficits are often collectively defined as hospital-associated deconditioning (HAD). ⋯ This perspective article outlines an innovative framework to operationalize and treat older adults with HAD. This framework may help therapists apply emerging exercise strategies to this population and facilitate additional research to support the total value of physical therapy for older adults in postacute care settings-with value measured not only by improvements in physical performance but perhaps also by reduced rates of disability development, rehospitalization, and institutionalization.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Movement System Impairment-Based Classification Versus General Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Low back pain (LBP) is an important health problem in all developed countries and is associated with high levels of disability. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines usually recommend different physical therapy interventions to manage this condition. However, those interventions usually result in small to moderate clinical effects. Recent studies suggest that interventions based on subgroup classifications may improve the effect sizes compared with rehabilitation programs where the same interventions were applied to all patients. ⋯ The results of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the efficacy of treatments based on classification of participants with chronic LBP into subgroups.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does Kinesiophobia Modify the Effects of Physical Therapy on Outcomes in Patients With Sciatica in Primary Care? Subgroup Analysis From a Randomized Controlled Trial.
A higher level of kinesiophobia appears to be associated with poor recovery in patients with sciatica. ⋯ In 135 patients with sciatica, evidence shows that patients with a higher level of kinesiophobia at baseline may particularly benefit from physical therapy with regard to decreasing leg pain intensity at 12-month follow-up.